ARCHIVED - Until 7th October, Carthaginians and Romans exhibition at the Roman Theatre Museum in Cartagena

Learn about the ancient history which is commemorated in the annual fiestas in Cartagena every September

Una Historia Hecha Fiesta

The latest exhibition at the Museo del Teatro Romano in Cartagena deals with the conflict between the Carthaginians and the Romans which shaped the ancient city of Carthago Nova (named Qart Hadasht by the Carthaginians) in the 3rd century BC, tracing the history of the war between the two cultures through a series of exhibits.

The conquest of Cartagena by the Romans in 209 BC took place in the context of the Second Punic War between the two Empires, and alongside archaeological remains found in the city the exhibition features information boards explaining their significance as well as audio-visual displays showing the annual fiestas. These panels explain the roots and causes of the war as well as its outcome, and at the same time visitors can learn about the main events re-enacted every September and the chief protagonists: on the Carthaginian side these include Hasdrubal, Hannibal and his bride Himilce, while on the part of the Romans, after the sack of Sagunto in the north of Valencia and the departure of Hannibal towards Rome, the conquest was completed by General Publius Cornelius Scipio.

The Roman Theatre Museum in Cartagena opens from Tuesday to Saturday between 10.00 and 20.00 and on Sundays from 10.00 to 14.00 until the end of September: as of 1st October afternoon visiting times end at 18.00.

The most important visitor attraction in Cartagena

The Roman Theatre Museum is the jewel in the crown of Cartagena, and the most visited museum in the whole of the Murcia Region, a beautifully structured museum with an impressively restored Roman Theatre at its heart, and if you only have time to visit one historical structure in Cartagena, this would be the recommendation.